Adjustable brace



M 229 1924. 150mm C. s. WEDDLE ADJUSTABLE BRACE I Filed March 2, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 1 lmwm c. s. WEDDLE Y ADJUSTABLE BEACH Filed March 2, 19252 SheeLs-Sheei 2 WIT/V5655 6 l atented July 22, 1924.

CALEB S. WEDDLE, OF CASPER, NYOIVIING.

ADJUSTABLE BRAGE.

Application filed. March 2, 1923. Serial No. 622,393

1 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CALEB S. lVEDDLn, a citizen of the United States,residing at asper, in the county of Natrona and State of lvyoming, haveinvented certain new and se ful Improvements in an Adjustable Brace, ofwhich the following is a. specific-ation.

This invention relates to tools and the pri mary object of the inventionis to provide a novel adjustable brace, in which more or less leveragecan be had according to the nature of the work acted upon by the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hand brace,which can be readily collapsed or folded, soas to occupy a minimumamount of space, when the brace is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel hand braceembodying a U-shaped hand crank adjustably carried by i the brace so asto adjust the throw of the brace and novel means forholding the U- crankin an adjustable position in relation to the other portions of thebrace.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means forpreventing the accidental. displacement of the U-crank from the otherportions of the brace during the adjustment of the U-crank.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedadjustable folding hand brace of the above character which will bedurable and efficient in use, one which will be simple and easy tomanufacture and one which can he placed upon the market at a reasonablecost.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved adjustable andcollapsible hand brace. 4

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the braceillustrating the means for holding the U-crank in an adjustable positionin relation to the other portions of the brace.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through aportion of the brace illustrating the means for preventing theaccidental withdrawal of the U- cra-nk from out of engagement with theother portions of the brace, and

Figure 41 is an elevation of the improved brace showing the same in itscollapsed or folded position.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter Agenerally indicates the improved brace, which includes the U- shapedhand crank 5. This crank 5 can be formed of any desired metal possessingthe necessary tensile strength and consists of the upper and lower arms6 and 7 and the connecting body portion 8. The body portion 8 can havearranged thereon any preferred type of handle (not shown). The upper andlower arms 6 and 7 of the U-shaped hand crank 5 are provided at con-distantly spaced points with notches or sockets 9, for a purpose,which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The upper or hand grip portion of the brace comprises a sleeve 10 forslidably receiving the upper arm 6 and the outer end of this sleeve 10has formed on its upper surface the head 11 for rotatably supporting anysuitable type of hand rest 12, as is common in the ordinary types ofbraces.

The lower or bit supporting portion of the brace also includes a tubularsleeve 13 for slidably receiving an arm 7 and the outer end of thissleeve has formed on its lower surface a depending extension 1 1,forsupporting any preferred type of socket or chuck 15 for receiving abit 16. The bit 16 can be of course of any size or type. Now the socketor chuck 15 can be connected with the extension 14 by any preferred typeof ratchet mechanism. I p

In order to hold the U-crank 5 in an adjusted position in relation tothe upper and lower members, the sleeve portions 10 and 13 thereof carryadjustable thumb screws 17 and 18 respectively, which have their innerends pointed as at 19 for engaging in any one of the sockets or notohes9formed in the upper and lower arms 6 and 7 of the crank 5. It is obviousthat by moving the crank in or out in relation to the upper and lowerportions of the brace and by tightening the set screws 17 and 18 thatthe throw of the brace can be adjusted.

Now in order to prevent the accidental displacement of the frame fromout of enfine a shoulder 27.

gagement with the upper and lower members of the brace, the sleeves 10and 13 support sliding dogs 20 and 21 respectively. Each of these dogs20 and :21 include a shank22 which can be slidably mounted in asuitableremovable plug 23 mounted in an opening formed in the sleeve. The innerend of the stem carries a tooth 24 which is nor nally urged inwardly bymeans of an expansion spring 25 coiled about the stem 22. This spring 25engages the plug 23 and the tooth The outer ends of the arms 6 and 'lare provided with annular grooves 26 which de It is obvious that thedogs engage against the shoulder 27 when the lJ-crank 5 is pulled out toits furtherest extent and thus prevents the accidental dis placement ofthe said hand grip. Of course this hand crank 5 can be removed from theupper and lower portions of the brace by lifting or pulling on the saiddogs. By referring to Figure 3 of the drawings it can be seen that theinner wall of the annular groove formed in each arm 6 and 7 is inclinedto "Facilitate movement of the dogs into and out of the said grooves.

hen it is desired to fold or collapse the brace one member is moved inon its arm so as to be out of alignment with the other member and thenthese members are turned inwardly toward each other as clearly shown inFigure 4 of the drawings. This of course provides a brace which willoccupy a minimum amount of space, and thereby allows convenient carryingor storing of the brace.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invention.

hat I claim as new is As a new article of manufacture, a hand bracecomprising a U-shaped hand crank including a pair of arms havingequidistantly spaced sockets therein and annular grooves adjacent to theouter ends thereoh a hand rest portion including a laterally eX- tendingsleeve, one of said arms being ro tatably and slidably mounted in saidsleeve a bit socket portion including a laterally extending sleeve forslidably and rotatably receiving the other arm, spring pressed dogscarried by the sleeves of the hand rest and socket portions for engagingin said grooves when the hand crank is pulled out o its fullest extentto prevent the accidental dis-- placement of said hand crank from saidsleeves, and set screws carried by said sleeves tor engaging in saidsockets to hold the hand crank in an adjusted position in said sleeves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CALEB S. VVEDDLE.

Witnesses J. K. ENGLAND, Gno. P. HIoKs.

